Automatic gas shut-off.



No. 743,016. PATENTED NOV.'3,1903.

G. J. MOGORMIGK.

AUTOMATIC GAS SHUT-OFF; APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 24, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Patented November 3, 1903.

CHARLES J. MCCORMICK, 0F AKRON, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC GAS SHUT-OFF.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 743,016, dated November 3, 1903.

Application filed January 24, 1903. Serial No. 140,340. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. MCCORMICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Gas Shut-Offs, of which the following is a complete specification.

My invention relates to gas-burners which by means of an expanding and contracting of confined air operates a valve to shut OK the gas after the flame is extinguished, but unlike the devices as ordinarily constructed provides for shutting oif the gas when the burner is cold and for keeping it shut ofi, so that if the gas is turned on without lighting it cannot flow orescape through the burner until the Valve is opened by hand and to be then kept open by the expanding and contracting of air, which operates when expanded to open the valve to the burner top or tips, but when contracted admits of the valve closing independently of the attachment and of remaining closed.

The invention, which includes a gravitating valve and thermostatic actuating means, substantially as hereinafter described, is applicable both to burners used for lighting purposes as well as those used for heating and cooking and constitutes a life-saving gasburner which will do away with all possible accident or death from asphyxia by the escape of gas.

The object of my invention is to construct an expanding and contracting attachment embodying a diaphragm to be operated by air which shall operate to keep the burner open as long as gas is burning and to close the inlet-port for the gas substantially instantly with the extinguishment of the flame.

To the accomplishment of the aforesaid object my invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction, arrangement, and combination of the parts hereinafter described and then specifically claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference-numerals indicate like parts in the both views, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a gas-lamp with my attachment in position therein; Fig. 2, a detail of the operating-valve and its attachment.

In the drawings, 1 represents the inlet-pipe, through which a supply of gas is obtained for lighting or cooking purposes. Upon the end of this pipe 1 is placed a closed chamber 2, which is designed to contain the valve-operating mechanism. The top of this chamber terminates in a circular ridge 3, of suitable size to hold and sustain the globe or chimney 4. Projecting from the central upper portion of the chamber 2 is a gas-tip 5, terminating in a lava tip 6, of ordinary construction, from which a flame is supposed to rise. (Illustrated in the drawings by dotted lines.) Through the top of the chamber 2 project two hollow closed pipesi, which extend upwardly far enough to come within the influence of the heat of the ignited gas. These pipes are held by frictional engagement or other desired or preferred means in the top of the chamber 2 and extend into the chamber 2, and their lower ends are outwardly divergent and then converge and terminate in an integral box 8. This box Sis thus sustained in a desired and fixed position within the chamber 2. Across the top of the box 8 is an extremely thin diaphragm 9, made up of a substance capable of considerable expansion and con traction, caused by the expansion of the air in the box 8, and normally dishing or concave between the side walls of the box 8.

Resting on the diaphragm 9 is the valveoperating mechanism, (best shown in Fig. 2,) which consists of a plate 10, the under surface of which has a convexity substantially equal to the concavity of the diaphragm 9 and normally adapted to rest thereon.

Extending upward from the plate 10 is a staff 11, which passes upward through a guidance-brace 12, fastened to the pipes 7. The staff 11 is rigidly fastened to a rectangular frame 13, which surrounds the box 8. Between the point where the rectangular frame 13 is attached to the staff 11 and the brace 12 is a coiled spring 14, whose normal tendency is to force down the staff and secure a perfect contact with pressure of the plate 10 upon the diaphragm.

Depending from the lower portions of the rectangular frame 13 and diametrically opposite the staff 11 is a valve-stem 1 1, which has a short distance below the frame 13a comparatively large thin collar 15, for a purpose to be stated, and thence downward a cylindrical portion 16, and below that a slender rod 17. The joint between the portions 16 17 is shaped like an inverted frustum of a cone.

The top of the inlet-pipe 1 is provided with a conical opening into which the portion 17 enters, and the conical joint between the portions 16 and 17 is adapted to nicely fit, this opening and to close it when the frame 16 and its attachments are at their lowest point.

Extending through one of the side walls of the chamber 2 is a shaft 18, having outside of the-walls of the chamber 2 an arm 19, terminating in a weight 20. This rod or shaft 18 extends into the chamber and under the collar 15. At its termination it has a short offset arm 21, set at substantially a quarter of a revolution with regard to the arm 19.

The operation of this device is as follows: A supply of gas is supposed to exist in the pipe 1 and the frame 13 and its attachments to be in the position indicated in Fig. 1.

The weight 20 is raised by hand,which rotates I the shaft or rod 18 substantially a semirotation, which causes the offset end 21 to encounter the under face 'of the collar 15, thereby raising the rectangular frame and its attached parts sufficiently to permit an inflow of gas into the chamber 2 from the pipe 1. This weight 20 being nearly vertical above the center of the rod or shaft 18 will remain in that position by itself, or, if it is desired, it may be held there by hand. The gas flowing from the pipe 1 passes through the cha1nher 3 and through the tip 5 and is lighted at the top of the globe 4 in the ordinary manner. The flame as it encounters and encompasses the pipes 7 heats them to an intense degree which causes the heated air contained in them to pass downward into the box 8, thereby causing a straightening of the concave diaphragm 9, which in turn raises the plate 10, as well as the rectangular frame 13. This movement of the rectangular frame 13 raises still further the valve-stem 14: and

keeps the conical joint from the opening in the head of the pipe 1. As soon as this has taken place the weight 20 wi1l fall ofits own gravity or be turned downward by hand, and the maintenance of the heat in the box 8 keeps the valve at the head of the pipe 1 open until for some reason the flame is extinguished, from which results the following operation: The pipes 7 being quickly cooled, the hot air in them and in the box 8 is thereby reduced in volume and the diaphragm 9 will sink to the position in Fig. 1, allowing the frame 13 and its attachments to gradually sink, thereby closing the opening in the top of the pipe 1.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An automatic gas shut-off for gas-burners involving a pipe to be heated by said gasburner, one end of which terminates in a box provided with a thin diaphragm covering one side capable of expansion and contraction, means to be operated by the movements of said diaphragm to open and close an inlet for gas, an inclosing case to surround the said box and means operated by the diaphragm thereof, a gas-burner projecting from said inclosing case, a pipe entering said inclosing case provided with a valve, substantially as shown and described.

2. An automatic gas shut-off for gas-burners involving an inclosing case provided at the top with a gas-burner and at the bottom with an inlet for gas, a valve in said inlet, a

pipe projecting from said casing the upper end of which is situated within the influence of the flame from said gas-burner the lower end whereof terminates in a box closed 011 one side by an expansible and contractiblc diaphragm, a frame bearing a valve closing means adapted to rest on said diaphragm to be operated by the movements thereof to open and close said inlet-valve, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the above I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OHARLES J. MCCORMICK.

In presence of- O. E. HUMPHREY, MAUDE ZWIsLER. 

